The men of the church will be hosting their annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 12th, 2013 at 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome to come and share in the feast. A good-will offering will be collected to help with our church missions. Please come join us in our celebration of Shrove Tuesday and indulge in pancakes for supper!

You may also wish to begin your observance of Lent the following day, Ash Wednesday, at our worship service beginning at 7PM.

Each Sunday after our coffee hour the congregation is invited to join in the Lenten Bible Study based on the book by Adam Hamilton entitled Final Words From the Cross, in which Hamilton examines Christ’s dying hours and his final words as seen and heard through the eyes and ears of those who stood near the cross. This study will begin on Sunday, February 10th; books are available from the Pastor by calling 860-379-2157. Everyone is welcome to come learn about this cornerstone of our faith from an enlightening perspective.

On Sunday, January 20th we will be renewing our covenant with God and the Methodist Church, as directed by the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. Read the words of John Wesley:

“Dearly beloved, the Christian life, to which we are called, is a life in Christ, redeemed from sin, and through him consecrated to God. Upon this life we have entered, having been admitted into that New Covenant of which our Lord Jesus Christ is mediator, and which He sealed with His own blood, that it might stand for ever.

On one side the Covenant is God’s promise that He will fulfill in and through us all that He declared in Christ Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. That His promise still stands we are sure, for we have known His goodness, and proved His grace in  our lives day by day.

On the other side we stand pledged to live no more unto ourselves, but to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, and has called us to serve Him that the purpose of His coming might be fulfilled.

From time to time, we renew our vows of consecration, especially when we gather at the Lord’s Table: but on this day we meet expressly, as generations of our fathers have met, that we may joyfully and solemnly renew the Covenant which bound them and binds us to God.

Let us then, remembering the mercies of God, and the hope of His calling, examine ourselves by the light of His Spirit, that we may see wherein we have failed or fallen short in faith and practice, and, considering all that this Covenant means, may give ourselves anew to God.”

Everyone is welcome to come and renew your pledge to God and to the church which he created. Our service begins at 9:30 AM on Sunday morning.

Hope you’re loosening up those vocal cords so you’re ready to join the annual Christmas Caroling. Singers are invited to meet in the church parking lot at 4:30 pm (previously listed incorrectly as 4 PM) on Sunday, December 16th, and travel to various homes to share the joyous sounds of the season. Then everyone is invited to join the singers upon their return to the church about 5:30 PM for a dinner of soup or chili. It promises to be a fun time, so please join us!!

The Advent Bible Study has been announced and will begin on Monday, Nov. 26th at 6:30 PM at the church. The remaining weeks of the study will be held on Sunday following Coffee Hour. We’ll use the book titled The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem by Adam Hamilton. Here’s a brief description of the study as found on the Cokesbury website.

“Journey with Adam Hamilton as he travels from Nazareth to Bethlehem in this fascinating look at the birth of Jesus Christ. Hamilton approaches a world-changing event with thoughtfulness. Using historical information, archaeological data, and a personal look at some of the stories surrounding the birth, the most amazing moment in history will become more real and heart-felt as you walk along this road.”